Idle Hands leans towards Christian reading but manages to get your attention for the content and its story line besides the angle of devil and human that is little horrifying and for someone like me the imagery through words could get very graphic in your mind. I could feel only hate for the abusive husband and then the concept of devil. It was terrifying. Devil for me is very different from the devil you think and the devil you read in the book. What more do you want from a book? To shake up your entire core and this one hits on the spot where I think men can't. Read this one when it comes out. Please please do

I loved this book! I found the format and writing style kept me hooked. Loved the concept of the 'sliding doors' effect and all the possible outcomes of the character's decisions. I read this in one sitting as I couldn't put it down! Great read.

This book was a lot of things. Kind is not one of those things. It pulls out all the stops and heaps enormous quantities of trauma on the reader, consequences be damned. This, for me, was a very personal book, with a lot of connections to a life that I've lived, and that made it far more impactful than I could've imagined. The idea of putting the devil into the details (and as a voice) was a wonderful one, and there was a lot of thinking to be done once I was finished with the book. The idea of the two paths, never knowing which is the right one is always a sticky one- specifically when it entails destroying the lives of your children vs leaving them happier. There's so much to be examined here, and I do wish the end gave a little more regarding the consequences of Perdie's actions (or, as the narrator highlights, perhaps her actions do not matter so much at all).

There are so many things examined in this- perhaps the most poignant being the way in which domestic violence is so pervasive and difficult to deal with, especially when you're unsure as to what the appropriate course of action is to take. This book left bile rising in my throat at times with its accuracy, a sure sign of the fact that it comes from a very real place. I loved all of the characterisation as well, except perhaps in Perdie, in that sometimes she felt a little more hollow- but, in being so self-sacrificial, I suppose that was a natural result. The book was interesting and made for quite the story- I just wish it had gone a tiny bit further with everything, and it would've been a five star for me.

What if?” is a question that every human can relate to. What if I made a different decision? Would my life be better? This is exactly what Idle Hands is about. What makes it interesting is that it’s told from the perspective of the devil (as in the devil on your shoulder).

I really love the concept of this book and how it explores decision making. It was an enjoyable read. The prologue sets up the story really well. I went back and read the prologue a future chapters in when I had more knowledge of the characters, giving more meaning to the story being told. The storytelling style provided a unique commentary on society and human behaviour.

At times, the devil’s interjections felt a little awkward to me, however, as the novel progressed, they started to feel more natural. This was a very uniquely written book and I really appreciated the creativity in the writing!

Thank you to the author and publisher for the eARC of this book in return for my honest opinion.

I’m going to start by saying there are trigger warnings for this book, especially with regards to domestic abuse. The story follows Perdie, a devoted mother and battered wife. Her husband Matt is a controlling narcissist who blames her for his violent outbursts. But at least he doesn’t go for their kids... until he does.

In the background is the devil who is watching the choices Perdie makes, including the brave one to take her children and flee from their abusive father. The devil continues to watch over Perdie and her family as they grow into their new life, safe from harm.

Then tragedy strikes.

Overwhelmed with shock and grief, Perdie blames herself, believing that her decision to leave all those years ago led to this moment. And that’s when the devil in disguise steps in with a question: If Perdie could take it all back and stay, would she do it?

At first I found the devil’s commentary a little off-putting, especially when it happened mid-scene but I quickly got used to this and it definitely added to the feeling of impending doom and apprehension. I found myself tensing whenever Perdie spoke to her husband in case something sparked off his vile temper. The scenes of domestic violence are raw and harrowing, but in no way gratuitous. I also felt the reasons people stay in an abusive relationship was sensitively handled.

The scenes surrounding the tragedy were heart-wrenching and I don’t mind admitting that I cried, despite the warnings within the devil’s narration that something bad was going to happen. It made me think of a sadistic version of the Chorus found in Greek tragedies. I also found some life-affirming observations within the devil’s views of human nature too, something I did not see coming!

I think this book, and the philosophical questions it raised, will stay with me for a long time. Available from 20th August, I wholeheartedly recommend it. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Well...... it’s different! Just, not a different I particularly enjoyed..

The devil is Ella and she interacts throughout this tale of family and abuse. It’s a story about Perdie and her children who escape Perdie’s abusive relationship in order to make a new life and it’s about choices and the consequences of our choices. It’s a unique read, I just really struggled with the writing style and found it hard to finish.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to preview.

A 2* OK read

After finishing 'Idle Hands', I am emotionally wrung out which highlights the power of this novel. Windwalker has crafted something truly special here.

The bulk of the text follows Perdie's life as she makes the decision to take her children out of their abusive home. We see the impact of Perdie's choices, with this action as the catalyst, coming to a better understanding of the strengths and flaws in human nature as we do. I do not want to share anymore of the narrative for fear the emotional impact will be lessened. Ultimately, the reader is forced to bear witness to the unexpected twists and turns of Perdie's life, Windwalker not shying away from portraying some pretty horrific and brutal events.

Plot aside, the narrative structure is what made this book a five star read, pushing the reader to be more introspective as a result of what they witness. Narrated by Ella (more commonly known to you and I as 'the devil'), the novel is sequenced with frequent sardonic interjections and appearances from this being herself. The extra layer of cynical commentary was incredibly clever and often unexpected in its delivery (sometimes perhaps waxing philosophy for slightly too long but this is just a minor gripe). What could have been a rather depressing tale of a broken family is turned into something rather more twisted and sinister.

This book is not for the faint-hearted with its unflinching portrayal of trauma and abuse. The structure of the text makes it a gripping read and raises some important questions on the nature of humanity, love and loss. A five star read, highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher who provided an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book had such a promising premise, but I'm afraid it didn't live up to the expectations I had for it.

The story is told in a very unique way, which I like the concept of. However I felt as though it dragged on a bit much.

That being said, just because I didn't enjoy it as much as I would have liked, doesn't mean it's not a good book!

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this E-book to review via Netgalley.

Thanks to NetGalley and Agora Books for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The concept of this book is really unique. One of the narrators is the devil, and we see how the main character's life would be different if she hadn't made a decision early on in the book. However, it just wasn't written well enough to hold my attention. I found the character development pretty lacking and I thought some of the sections where the devil was narrating dragged on. This one was "just okay" in my book.

Review posted on Goodreads on July 14, 2020.

A sliding doors type scenario but through the viewpoint of the devil? Yes, please! This was fun book just when I needed one. The book was very quick but I didn't feel like it was rushed, just well-paced and plotted. It was really just a joy to read. It asked so many philosophical questions about choice and decision making but not in a heavy-handed or condescending way.

Idle Hands is told from the perspective of Ella, or as she is more widely known, The Devil. She is the one pulling all the strings in this tale of tough decisions and what you would give to spend one more day with a loved one.
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Perdie has to make a huge decision at the beginning of the book. Should she stay with her abusive and manipulative Husband or leave to start a new life with her children. Her courage leads her to a life so far removed from her previous one that when the unthinkable happens and her family is torn apart she gets offered a choice by Ella, continue to suffer the pain of her current situation or go back and alter a life changing moment and live your life on another path.
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Ella's observations on the human existence are cynical, funny and most of the time totally spot on. The Devil doesn't want people to become some hell fire demon but rather to appreciate their choices for what they are and find the good in things even when you're at rock bottom. There is pleasure all around you if you're able to look past your own small existence to see it.
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I was pretty much gripped from the start and it made for a speedy read but to be honest I wasn't too interested in Perdie's parts of the story I was mostly waiting for Ella to turn up and put a rocket up everyone's behind!! A snappy read that will make you think.

A thought-provoking and original book that focuses on Perdie and her escape from her abusive husband before he turns his abuse on their three children. Her actions and the decisions she makes catches the attention of Ella, or 'the devil'. Many of Perdie's choices seem to put her between a rock and a hard place, and Ella marvels at how she instead creates a third path. However, with each decision there is a consequence or price to pay. Finally, there comes a point when Perdie has run out of choices and Ella offers Perdie the ultimate 'what if' choice.

Throughout the book, there is love, heartbreak, sacrifice and the true cost of succumbing to temptation. It is, at times, a difficult read, with domestic abuse being a central theme. It is a book that raises many questions and will stay with me for quite some time.

My thanks go to the publishers and Net Galley for the advance copy in return for an honest review.

This is the story of Perdie. She is the mother of three children and wife of Matt, college professor and wife beater. She has stayed with Matt for the sake of her children but although he treats his girls like little princesses he has started being aggressive to their son. In that moment she chooses to leave and start again far away. Tragedy strikes and Perdie wonders if the decision to leave led to this moment. Ella who is the devil, narrates some of Perdie’s story, offers Perdie a deal, is she tempted?

The book starts with the narrative from Ella who prefers to be called that rather than the devil. I really hated this at the start, it wasn’t drawing me in and I was honestly wondering if the book carried on in the same vein whether or not I would even be able to finish it. The book then swaps from Ella’s point of view to Perdie’s and I started to really get into the story. The main bulk of the book is from Perdie’s point of view with Ella interjecting every so often. I thought this was going to be a book about a battered wife leaving her husband and the husband hunting her down. It wasn’t this at all it was about the choices we make and how it affects others and soul things have been better if we had chosen a different path?

This book sounded promising but it just didn't do it for me I'm afraid.
It dragged on and was difficult to really get your teeth into.
The idea is a good one, just the execution could have been better.

How do I begin to review a book this full of content? I LOVED this novel so much. Initially I found it difficult to adjust to the much more complex and literary style of Ella’s sections as Perdie’s chapters were so easily readable. Mind you, reading before bed does mean concentration is compromised!
Once I had read on though I found it was nice to shift pace, slow down and really focus on what Ella was telling us about herself and about ‘Them’ who we refer to as God. There was literally so much to unpack each time. The idea of a female gendered devil and a gender less God. The idea that the devil isn’t trying to ruin our lives but in fact is simply offering us opportunities to indulge, to live in the moment and to follow our desires. And then you have to apply what she says to Perdie’s story while probably, if you are anything like me, applying it to your own life, decisions and choices.
Perdie and her children are well drawn and likeable characters and the narrative flowed really well despite being interrupted by Ella when she felt she needed to demonstrate something to us or make comment on Perdie’s thought processes.
I hate reviews that give spoilers so it’s hard to say everything I want to but Ella’s final point is incredible. It would have been so easy for Windwalker to give us the sugar sweet Hollywood ending. Instead, she gave us something though provoking and real.
I will be recommending this book to everyone!

What a wonderful original story that had me laughing out loud at times. I loved Ella. - the Angel we know as the Devil - who spent the time observing Perdue and the children. The interruptions to the story by Ella were so well paced and certainly thought provoking, this was an unusual but wonderful way of looking at two aspects of life changing events. I found that throughout I was questioning my thoughts and how I might have reacted to the situations that Perdie. faced.
The essence of the story was Perdie, as an abused wife trying at all times to do the best for her children with the Devil watching always to make snide remarks for us the reader to think about. To some people Perdie could have appeared to have a weak character but hers was a difficult situation and I thought that she showed great strength throughout and her actions were at all times well meant.
A superb book, well written with extremely well defined characters and situations that meant that as a reader I was with Perdie all the way through. Highly recommend this to others.

This book has a great premise - who wouldn’t want to read a book with the Devil (true name Ella, female) as a narrator? The book is also very well-written, and focuses on Perdie, a mother trapped in a cycle of domestic violence. Ella offers her certain “deals” and the book follows Perdie through these deals in a very thoughtful and interesting way.

Unfortunately though despite having some great ideas, and despite being very well-written and covering topics I find important, I just didn’t fully connect with the book. I might have preferred alternating chapters with the Devil & Perdie - some of the interruptions broke up the flow of the book for me. And interestingly, though I picked the book because of the great idea of the devil narrator, it was Perdie’s voice I wanted to hear more of throughout the book. I also kept wanting Perdie to assert herself more and gain some independence and the end of the book did not give me that in a resolution I wanted.

Ultimately I think this is a case of “it’s not you, it’s me.” I didn’t love the book, but it’s well-written and has some great ideas, so if the initial conceit and the style of Ella’s interruptions appeals to you, you’ll probably like it. The format just didn’t work for me. I would give it a 3.5 though for the skill of the writing.

Thanks to Agora Books, NetGalley and the author for the advance copy to read!

After making the courageous decision to leave her abusive husband, Perdie and her three young children start over and finally find the safety and love they deserve. But years later, when tragedy strikes, Perdie is left wondering if the choice she made to leave has led them to this moment. If she were given the opportunity to take it all back and stay, would she?
In a frantic bid to protect her family, Perdie makes a deal to do just that. But in a world where the devil pulls the strings, can Perdie really change the past?
This book had me captivated from the beginning and is truly one of the most original books I have ever read. It is so well written, and I found the chapters from Ella’s perspective to have a beautiful, almost lyrical quality.
It is a light, easy, but thought provoking read. It explores love, relationships and grief in a very unique way. Ella makes observations throughout the book that really made me think and question, which is a quality I really love in a book.
Overall, a very clever and enjoyable read that is truly one of a kind. If you want to read something beautifully original, this is the one for you. Thank you @agorabooks. You have done it again with another great publication! Publication date: 23/07/2020

I feel like I held my breath the whole way through this book. It was intense and like nothing I’ve ever read before. The story is told from the perspective of ‘Ella’ who is literally THE DEVIL.

Perdie is an abused wife who makes the decision to leave her vile husband in pursuit of a new life with three children, however when tragedy strikes, she wonders if her choice was the right one and unknowingly makes a deal with the devil in an attempt to make things right again.

Ella’s narrative forces you to question everything you believe about the choices you make and their consequences. I did find some parts of Ella’s monologues a little long and drawn out. At first I felt like this took away from the intensity of the story, but in a strange way it sort of added to it. Ella takes her time as though the soul crushing, horrendous goings on are of little consequence. This in itself over time added to how chilling this novel was for me.

It was an intense and unapologetically brutal read but so incredibly unique, it’s beautiful and awful in a way that kept me reading until I’d finished it in just one day.

I love the concept of this book! Hearing the inter thoughts of Ella (the devil) was very interesting. That being said it took me until about 50% to be really invested in the story, I think the first half wasn't as strong as the second. I think this book would have benefitted from being longer as we didn't get to spend a huge amount of time really getting to know the characters.

Overall a good story with a lot of "what if' moments.